Despite critics, Johnson firm in gun bill support

Jesse Mock

State Sen. Karen Johnson is sticking to her guns and pushing for Senate Bill 1214 despite strong opposition from some students and college employees.The bill would allow any student or employee to carry a concealed weapon onto school grounds provided that the individuals have their concealed carry weapons permit.

To obtain the permit an individual must be at least 21 years of age and complete and eight hour course.

Sen. Johnson decided to sponsor the bill after she said numerous teachers reached her in hopes of making a law allowing teachers and students to carry guns to schools.

The bill’s original format would have allowed members of all of Arizona’s schools to carry a weapon with a CCW permit, but was later revised for only the state’s universities and colleges.

Concerns have been raised by students and faculty members about whether the bill would actually make the campuses safer or more dangerous.

Johnson believes these concerns that students and faculty have are based on emotion rather than fact.

If students were to look at the statistics they might have a different outlook, according to Johnson.

“Utah has had a similar law in effect for about three years and there has not been one incident at any of their campuses,” she said.

The thought of the learning environment being compromised by having weapons at school is crazy to Sen. Johnson.

“The idea is kind of bogus. I would be sobered to know that if a crazy was on campus, that other students could fight back.”

The Arizona Board of Regents, the governing board for Arizona’s three universities, does not share Sen. Johnson’s vision for guns on campus.

In a recent meeting the board unanimously voted to keep the three university campuses gun-free.

The bill passed the rules committee with a 4-3 vote. The bill now needs to get through the Republican and Democratic caucuses so it can be voted on by the Arizona House of Representatives.

If passed, Governor Napolitano would have the option to veto the bill.

Napolitano vetoed a similar bill last year that would have allowed concealed weapons at bars and restaurants.

“It is a possibility that Napolitano would veto this bill if passed, but before she vetoed it I would hope she would look at the statistics backing guns on campus,” explained Johnson.

The Maricopa Community College District has taken an official stance against the bill.

Public safety directors from the states three universities have also spoken out publicly against the proposed legislation.

MCC Public Safety Director Steve Corich said he doesn’t believe allowing weapons on campus would be conducive to a good learning enviornment.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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